The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” vs43

This is what we are supposed to do: follow the Lord Jesus Christ. We’re to forsake all and follow Him. We’re to leave everyone and everything else behind. We are not to walk with Him partially but follow Him completely.

In following, we’ll find joy, peace, and power over sin. We’ll find the thrill of our lives in the gospel, and He’ll pay us back handsomely.

We follow Him in love, faith, and good works. We follow in obedience. There is no following except according to the word.

Secondly, it may seem simple, and it may seem boring, but all that we have is the Jesus of the Scriptures. vs45

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

We have no other tactic or tool but the simple preaching of God’s grace. We don’t use smoke and mirrors or personality and charm, which is building on the flesh [1 Cor 3:10-15]. We use the gospel of God’s grace, preached in love, and we tell them about Christ.

If they are uninterested, then let them perish. If they have a sin problem… if they are CALLED BY GOD… then they will come. 1 Cor 1:22-24, “Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” We show what we think about God by how we preach the gospel.

Thirdly, this is what we want people to do --Come and see the gospel. vs46

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Examine Christ for yourself. We are not interested in side issues. We are preachers of Christ.

I don’t have time to argue with you about long hair or short. I have no interest in pants or dresses. (All of these things, properly interpreted, point us to Christ’s grace, not rules of mere outward conduct.) I couldn’t care less about Republican or Democrat. I want you to see the glory that’s in Christ - the forgiveness of sins, hope for the godly, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. I want you to see eternal life. I want you to see Christ for who He is, not what you think or according to your expectations!

Have you heard rumors about Jesus? Come and see. Do you doubt my pedigree? Come and see Christ. Have you heard many things about a particular teacher, like Calvin? Come and see Jesus.

Fourthly, our Lord Jesus Christ knows everything. vs47-48

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Jesus knows all about us: He knows if we are sincere, and He knows why we follow Him. He knows if we are sinners, trusting His obedience, or if we’re trusting ourselves, and adding to His perfect work by mixing in our own. He knows if we have faith, or if we are imposters, and He cannot be fooled.

Therefore, trust Him sincerely. Come with your sins and rely upon Him to bring you the Father through the merit of His blood. His Spirit will sanctify us and keep us from falling. He will fulfill His promises, so trust Him with your life. Faith pleases God and gives Him glory.

Finally, Jesus is the ladder. vs49-51

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

He is the way that God speaks to us, bringing us messages of Himself by divine revelation. He is the knowledge of God, and in Him is the full gospel. Col 2:3, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Every time the Bible speaks, it’s in relation to Christ.